Treating agent for protecting animal fiber

ABSTRACT

A treatment agent for animal fiber protection which comprises an aqueous solution containing divalent metal ions or a divalent metal salt. The treatment agent prevents hair and animal fiber damage associated with permanent wave treatments, bleaching treatments, etc.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a treatment agent for animal fiberprotection and an animal fiber treatment method that are designed toprotect fibers from damage arising during the conduct of oxidationtreatment for animal fibers consisting of keratin. The present inventionrelates to a hair treatment agent that is designed to protect hairespecially in permanent wave treatment (perm treatment) and haircoloring treatment of human hair. The present invention also relates toa treatment agent that protects animal fibers from damage accompanyingbleaching treatment of non-human animal fibers such as sheep's wool.

BACKGROUND ART

Treatment using various chemicals is involved during so-called permtreatment in which human hair is permanently waved. With common permtreatments, cystine bonds in hair tissue are reduced with the aid of afirst perming agent (thioglycolic acid), as shown below.

Next, after the hair has been made wavy, oxidation is conducted with theaid of a second agent (sodium bromate), and the cystine bond is reduced.After-treatment such as rinsing is then performed, and the permtreatment is completed.

The above-mentioned second agent (sodium bromate) used in such permingtreatment is an oxidizing agent. As shown below, cysteic acid isgenerated in that treatment process.

This cysteic acid is thought to reduce hair strength, and lead to hairdamage or deterioration of feel of hair, or hair fading or decoloration.Effective methods to prevent hair quality reduction accompanying suchperm treatments have not conventionally been known.

Cysteic acid is also similarly generated in head hair coloring treatmentdue to bleaching (oxidation treatment) using hydrogen peroxideassociated therewith. Further, cysteic acid is also generated byoxidation treatment during bleaching treatment or hair coloringprocesses on animal fibers such as sheep's wool, cashmere, camel, andrabbit.

It is inferred that in the oxidation process associated with suchperming treatment, etc, the cysteic acid generated largely impacts onthe damage to hair. The present inventor earnestly examined methods toprevent damage of hair, or the like in such perming treatments, etc. Asa result, the present invention was completed by acquiring the knowledgethat by reacting divalent metals or their salts, such as calcium orcalcium salts with cysteic acid and obtaining —SO₃Ca, the producedsubstance is inactivated, and insoluble and stable in water, and suchdamage can be prevented.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a treatment agent for animalfiber protection comprising an aqueous solution containing divalentmetal ions or a divalent metal salt. The present invention also providesa perming treatment method, hair coloring method, and bleaching methodthat are minimally damageable to animal fibers such as hair, using suchprotection treatment agent.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Divalent Metals)

It would be preferable for the metal component of the divalent metalions and divalent metal salts used in the treatment agent for animalfiber protection in the present invention to be calcium, magnesium andbarium. These metal ions and metal salts can be introduced in variousforms into the treatment agent. For example, they can be combined ascalcium, magnesium, and barium metal oxides (e.g. calcium oxide),hydroxides (e.g. calcium hydroxide), and chlorides (e.g. calciumchloride).

They can also be combined as calcium, magnesium, and barium organic acidsalts (hydroxy acid metal salt, and fatty acid metal salt), etc. Suchmetal hydroxy acid salts include aliphatic hydroxy acid metal salts suchas saccharic acids such as lactic acid, gluconic acid, ascorbic acid,citric acid, malic acid, glycolic acid, oxypropionic acid, tartaricacid, and glucaric acid, and aromatic hydroxy acid metal salts such asgallic acid, and hydroxybenzoic acid. Metal salts such as methyl vinylether-maleic anhydride and its copolymer calcium salt are also used.

They can also include polysaccharides and their derivatives, forexample, metal salts such as the various calcium salts of carboxy methylcellulose, hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, gellan gum, carboxy methylchitin, and carboxy methyl chitosan.

(Chelating agents)

Chelating agents may be added in order to assist dissolution of divalentmetals. Such chelating agents could include ethylene diaminetetraacetate, nitrilo triacetate, diethylene triamine pentaacetate,hydroxy ethyl ethylene diamine triacetate, triethylene triaminehexaacetate, 1,3-propane diamine tetraacetate,1,3-diamino-2-hydropropane tetraacetate, hydroxy ethylimino diacetate,dihydroxy ethyl glycine, glycol ether diamine tetraacetate, anddicarboxy methyl glutamic acid.

Of these, metal compounds such as calcium hydroxide, magnesiumhydroxide, calcium lactate, magnesium lactate, calcium gluconate,calcium citrate, calcium malate, calcium saccharate, and calciumchloride in particular would be desirable, as would the combiningthereof with a chelating agent such as ethylene diamine tetraacetate.

Based on metal conversion, the concentration of the above-mentionedmetals or a metal salt in the treatment agent for animal fiberprotection of the present invention is 80 to 50,000 mg/l, and preferably100 to 20,000 mg/l, and even more preferably 200 to 8,000 mg/l. When thecompound amount is less than this, the protective effect on animalfibers such as hair will be inadequate; when it is more than this, noimproved effect will be seen, either.

Effective metals are preferably metals that are insoluble in water suchas calcium in the form of —SO₃Ca. Magnesium compounds or the like areaare also preferable. Monovalent metals such as potassium and sodiumimpede the effect of the present invention, so it would be preferable touse water with a low amount or no monovalent metal content such as purewater and ion exchange water.

(Preparation of Treatment Agent for Animal Fiber Protection)

The treatment agent for protection of the present invention can beprepared by sufficiently dissolving designated metal salts, etc in anaqueous solution. It would also suffice to promote volatilization of thesolvent by adding alcohol such as ethanol as desired. The treatmentagent may be used in the form of a hair lotion as an aqueous solution,aqueous solution and hair mist, and could further be used in variousforms including a hair spray using the aqueous solution in combinationwith a spray, foam, and gel.

Conventionally known ingredients such as plasticizers (e.g. polyethyleneglycol), antioxidants, oils, preservatives, ultraviolet absorbers,thickeners, perfumes, and dyes may also be suitably combined as requiredin the treatment agent of the present invention provided they do notdiminish its function.

It may also be used in the form of a shampoo, rinse, and treatmentagents by formulation together with surface-active agents andconditioning ingredients.

The treatment agent for animal fiber protection of the present inventionprevents damage and fading of animal fibers such as hair, and preventshair quality reduction, by acting on cysteic acid that is generated inassociation with perm treatments, etc. It was able to markedly mitigatedamage to animal fibers caused by cysteic acid.

(Usage of Treatment Agent)

The usage of the treatment agent for animal fiber protection of thepresent invention is herein explained, using perm treatment for humanhair as an example. In wave treatment, head hair is subject to treatmentwith a first agent, followed by wave treatment. This is followed bytreatment with a second agent, which is then followed by rinsing. Next,as a stabilizing treatment, 10 to 200 ml, normally about 50 ml of anaqueous solution of dissolved divalent metal salt such as calcium saltis applied to the entire hair by an appropriate method such as a spray.After this solution has adhered to and permeated the hair for about 1 to20 minutes, but preferably 2 to 10 minutes, it is removed by rinsing thehair with water.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is herein further explained with reference toexamples.

[Example 1] (Hair Treatment Agent)

A hair treatment solution was prepared by adding 10 g of calciumhydroxide and 20 g of ethylene diamine tetraacetate to water, making upto 1 liter, and completely dissolving them therein.

(Test Method)

A conventional wave perming treatment was performed on 10 g of cut hair.That is, first, reducing treatment was performed on the hair using thefirst agent (thioglycolic acid). Next, physical treatment such asheating was performed, and a wave perming process was conducted.Further, following oxidation treatment using the second agent (sodiumbromate), the hair was rinsed and the chemicals were removed. Twentymilliliters of the above-mentioned hair treatment agent was sprayed ontothis hair and left for two minutes. Next, the treatment agent wasremoved by rinsing the hair with water and then the hair was dried.Defining each treatment as one process, the process was repeated onceevery week for a total of 10 times on the same hair. After 10 treatmentsa panel of five people evaluated macroscopically the extent of damage tothe hair. The results are shown in Table 1. For comparison, a similartreatment was performed except instead of the hair treatment agent,water (20 ml) was sprayed on hair (10 g) following perm treatment.

[Examples 2 to 6] (Hair Treatment Agent)

Except for the use of the ingredients in Table 1, the hair treatmentagent was prepared as in Example 1, and provided for evaluation. Theresults are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 unit: g Example 1 2 3 4 5 6Contrast calcium lactate — 20 — — — — — magnesium lactate — — 5 — — — —calcium chloride — 0.1 — — — — — calcium gluconate — — 5 — — — — calciumsaccharate — — — 10 — — — calcium citrate — — — 5 — — — calcium malate —— — — — 25 — calcium hydroxide 10 — — — 5 — — ethylenediamine 20 — — — —— — tetraacetate methyl vinyl ether- — — — — 20 — — maleic anhydridecopolymer water balance balance balance balance balance balance balanceevaluation panelist A ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ Δ panelist B ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ Δ panelist C⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ X panelist D ◯ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ Δ panelist E ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ Δ⊚: changeless◯: slight changeΔ: somewhat changeX: significant change

[Examples 7 to 12] (Hair Treatment Agent)

A hair treatment solution was prepared by adding each of the constituentingredients shown in Table 2 below to water, making up to 1 liter, andcompletely dissolving them therein. This hair treatment solution wasevaluated similarly as described above. The results are also shown inTable 2. TABLE 2 unit: g Example 7 8 9 10 11 12 gallic acid 1 — — — 2 —lactic acid — — — — — 4 triethylene 4 — — — — — triamine hexaacetatehydroxy — 5 3 — 5 — ethylimino diacetate dihydroxy — 0.5 — 4 — — ethylglycine carboxy — — 0.5 — — — methyl cellulose hyaluronic — — 0.1 — — —acid methyl — — — 4 — — vinyl ether- maleic anhydride copolymer calcium2 1 1 1 — — hydroxide magnesium — — — — 1 1 hydroxide water balancebalance balance balance balance balance evaluation panelist A ⊚ ◯ ⊚ ⊚ ◯◯ panelist B ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ◯ ◯ panelist C ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ◯ ◯ panelist D ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ◯ ◯panelist E ◯ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ◯ ◯

[Examples 13 and 14, and Comparative Example 1] (Hair Coloring)

A hair treatment solution was prepared by adding each of the constituentingredients shown in Table 3 below to water, making up to 1 liter, andcompletely dissolving them therein.

(Test Method)

The process shown below comprising both a hair coloring treatment andperm treatment was repeated five times. Thereafter, the tensile strengthof the hair was measured using a tensile tester. Strength was measuredand the peak area was calculated based on the height of the peak of thechart obtained. The peak area represents the index of fiber toughness.

(Process)

(1) Shampoo treatment-(2) Rinsing with water-(3) Bleaching (roomtemperature) and Coloring treatment-(4) Rinsing with water-(5) Shampootreatment-(6) Drying-(7) Wetting with water-(8) Perming with first agent(10 min at 32 C) (9) Rinsing with water-(10) Perming with second agent(15 min at room temperature)-(11) Rinsing with water-(12) Drying

During the above processes, before and after (3) and in (12) thetreatment agents for the examples and comparison example were used onthe hair. TABLE 3 unit: g Comparative Example ex

13 14 1 gluconic acid 5 — — calcium oxide 1 1 — dicarboxy methylglutamic acid — 6 — water balance balance whole strength (g) 110 115 80peak area (cm²) 7.33 7.41 1.10

Hydrogen peroxide is used in the coloring treatment for hair. The use ofthis hydrogen peroxide generates cysteic acid, which leads to damage tothe hair. However, the use of the protective treatment agent in theexamples enabled the prevention of hair damage.

[Examples 15 to 17, Comparative Example 2] (Coloring of Sheep's Wool)

A hair treatment solution was prepared by adding each of the constituentingredients shown in Table 4 below to water, making up to 1 liter, andcompletely dissolving them therein. Degreasing using an alkaline(ammonia water), and hydrogen peroxide treatment were conducted onindividual 10 g cut wool pieces. Before and after these processes,treatment was performed using the above-mentioned protecting agent. Thetensile strength of this wool was measured similarly as described above.The results are shown in Table 4. TABLE 4 unit: g Comparative Example ex

15 16 17 2 calcium gluconate 4 — — — gluconic acid 2 — — — glycol etherdiamine — 5 5 — tetraacetate calcium hydroxide — 1 — — magnesiumhydroxide — — 1 — water balance balance balance whole strength (g) 90 8890 60 peak area (cm²) 3.51 3.55 2.91 0.90

As can be clearly seen from Table 4, the wool treated with the treatmentagent in the examples clearly shows greater fiber strength compared withthat of the comparative example. Damage to animal fibers is thereforelikely to be minimal when the treatment agent of the present inventionhas been used.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The treatment agent for animal fiber protection of the present inventionprevents hair and animal fiber damage associated with permanent wavetreatments, bleaching treatments, etc.

1. A treatment agent for animal fiber protection comprising an aqueoussolution containing divalent metal ions or a divalent metal salt.
 2. Thetreatment agent according to claim 1, wherein the divalent metal iscalcium.
 3. The treatment agent according to claim 1, wherein thedivalent metal salt is a chelate-like substance selected from the groupof calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, hydroxy acid salt, andethylene diamine tetraacetate salt.
 4. An animal fiber treatment method,wherein, in a process of conducting oxidation treatment for animalfibers consisting of keratin, the treatment agent according to claim 1is brought into contact with the animal fibers before and/or after saidtreatment.
 5. The treatment method according to claim 4, wherein, in aprocess, of conducting permanent wave treatment for human hair, thetreatment agent is brought into contact with the human hair beforeand/or after said wave treatment.
 6. The treatment method according toclaim 4, wherein, in a process of conducting coloring treatment forhuman hair, the treatment agent is brought into contact with
 7. Thetreatment method according to claim 4, wherein, in a process ofconducting bleaching treatment of sheep's wool, the treatment agent isbrought into contact with the sheep's wool before and/or after saidbleaching treatment.
 8. A method of treating hair that is subject to aprocess of varying a physical characteristic of the hair, comprising:applying a reducing agent including thioglycolic acid to the hair;applying a hair treatment agent that provides cystic acid to the hair;and applying a hair stabilizing treatment containing one of calcium,magnesium and barium in sufficient quantity to react with the cysticacid from the hair treatment for protect the hair.
 9. The method ofclaim 8 further including providing a chelating agent in the hairstabilizing treatment.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the hairstabilizing treatment includes a metal compound selected from a groupconsisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium lactate,magnesium lactate, calcium gluconate, calcium citrate, calcium malate,calcium saccharate, and calcium chloride.
 11. The method of claim 10further including a chelating agent to assist dissolution of divalentmetals selected from a group consisting of ethylene diaminetetraacetate, nitrilo triacetate, diethylene triamine pentaacetate,hydroxy ethyl ethylene diamine triacetate, triethylene triaminehexaacetate, 1,3-propane diamine tetraacetate,1,3-diamino-2-hydropropane tetraacetate, hydroxy ethylimino diacetate,dihydroxy ethyl glycine, glycol ether diamine tetraacetate, anddicarboxy methyl glutamic acid.
 12. The method of claim 8 wherein thecalcium, magnesium and barium are organic acid salts selected from agroup consisting of aliphatic hydroxy acid metal salts and aromatichydroxy acid metal salts.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein thealiphatic hydroxy acid metal salts include lactic acid, gluconic acid,ascorbic acid, citric acid, malic acid, glycolic acid, oxypropionicacid, tartaric acid, and glucaric acid.
 14. The method of claim 12wherein the aromatic hydroxy acid metal salts include gallic acid andhydroxybenzoic acid.